Dustin Pedroia had a pair of RBI and was one of seven Red Sox to drive in runs. David Ortiz had his team-leading 85th RBI of the season.

Allen Webster had a rocky start but earned the win with six innings of work.

Tigers 5, Pirates 2

DETROIT — Max Scherzer struck out 14 batters in eight shutout innings, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Scherzer (14-4), last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, held Pittsburgh to three hits and two walks. Since June 22, he is 6-1 in 10 starts with a 1.78 ERA and 85 strikeouts.

Scherzer’s performance and a homer from J.D. Martinez gave the Tigers a much-needed sweep of the two-game set and a split of the four games in the home-and-home series that started Monday in Pittsburgh.

Royals 7, Athletics 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nori Aoki and Billy Butler each drove in two runs during a five-run seventh inning that rallied surging Kansas City past Oakland.

The Royals (66-54) have won 18 of 22 to move 12 games above .500 for the first time since July 20, 2003. Kansas City took the season series, winning five of seven against the Athletics.